Fujian Travel: A Two-Day Wandering Journey in Xiapu (Photos)
The journalist's two-day trip to Xiapu, organized by the Happy Club of Beijing Television (CATV) as part of the Fujian tour, was conducted in two stages. The first visit to Xiapu took place after the tour of Fuzhou; the second visit to Xiapu occurred the day after the tour of Taimu Mountain.
Arriving in Xiapu (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
At 13:40 Beijing time on January 18, 2024, the team leader Chen Jing and local guide Liu Ronghui led the Fujian group, traveling by bus driven by Master Yang Binghua, for two hours from Fuzhou to Dongbi Village in Xiapu.
Viewing the seaside in Dongbi Village (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Upon reaching the road by the sea, everyone strolled along the coast. Looking out, one side was the vast, boundless sea; the other side featured houses scattered on the undulating mountainside—a beautiful natural seaside scene.
Bamboo poles for marine farming (Photo by Wang Jue)
Liu Ronghui explained that Dongbi Village is a small fishing village in Sansha Town, Xiapu County, located on a hillside facing the sea. The sea surface is very wide, covered with bamboo poles for marine farming, with distant overlapping peaks in the background.
Group photo at the church in Dongbi Village (Photo by Chen Jing)
Especially during the seaweed cultivation season, the bamboo poles cast eerie shadows, boats shuttle back and forth, and the setting sun melts into gold, creating a magnificent scene where mountains, sea, people, villages, beaches, reefs, forests, fishing boats, and bamboo poles perfectly blend. The journalists strolled along the mountain path to a church on the hill, where they could overlook the entire surrounding seascape.
Overlooking the sea (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Dongbi Village is also an ideal spot for sunset photography. A winding stream on the beach flows through, carving out complex and varied textures. The soft lines glow golden under the sunset, adding vitality to the colorful sand, attracting photographers from around the world.
Mountain view of Dongbi Village (Photo by Wang Jue)
Dongbi Village also features several modern, light-luxury seaside homestays like "Time Sea," "Qiyi Qisu," and "Houhai." Their sea-facing balconies offer views of sunrise and sunset, drifting clouds and returning boats; in the light-luxury bedrooms, one can fall asleep to the sound of waves and dream in the sea breeze. When the journalists arrived in the afternoon, the backlighting for sea photos added a unique charm.
Seaside view of Dongbi Village (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
At 14:30 Beijing time, the Fujian group left Dongbi Village and arrived at the Sansha Light and Shadow Boardwalk along the coast. Located in Xiapu County, Ningde City, it faces the sea and is built along the mountain, with numerous viewing platforms and pavilions. It is an ideal place for walking, sea viewing, and watching sunsets.
Entrance to Sansha Light and Shadow Boardwalk (Photo by Wang Jue)
Entering from the roadside entrance of the Sansha Light and Shadow Boardwalk, the wooden boardwalk winds along the rugged coastline. Walking along, enjoying the magnificent sea views, was truly delightful. The entire boardwalk is two kilometers long, hugging the mountain and winding along the terrain, taking about half an hour to traverse.
Liuyunha Viewing Platform (Photo by Zhou Changman)
It is said that this boardwalk is mainly used by photography enthusiasts and tourists for leisure and sightseeing. Along the boardwalk, many staggered platforms are built, some for viewing fish rafts, others for viewing sea sunsets. The largest platform is shaped like an ancient fishing boat with the words "Liuyunhao," symbolizing that Sansha is also an ancient town based on fishing.
View from Sansha Light and Shadow Boardwalk (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The sunrise, sunset, and scenes of sea farming here are spectacular, changing with every step. In the distance, large-scale laver cultivation fields stretch to the horizon, with moving boat shadows and swaying net poles, creating a magnificent view. Below the boardwalk are granite rocks with beautiful textures.
Group photo at Sansha Light and Shadow Boardwalk (Photo by Liu Jun)
Dongbi Village and the Sansha Light and Shadow Seaside Boardwalk scenic area are located in Sansha Town, which is home to the famous Min-Dong fishing ground in China, a national first-class fishing port. The boardwalk offers unique views of the bay. On the beach, only bulldozers are working.
Seaside view from the boardwalk (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Most fishing boats are stranded on the beach. Bundles of bamboo are unloaded by bulldozers and delivered to the boats. Boat owners insert the bamboo poles into the sea and hang kelp, which is how kelp farming is done. During the fishing moratorium, the bay is filled with boats, presenting a unique, characteristic small fishing village scene.
Entrance to Rongfeng Park (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
At 15:30 Beijing time, the BATV Happy Club Fujian team arrived at the last scenic spot of the day: Xiapu Rongfeng Park. Along the Yangjia Creek in Xiapu, a row of ancient banyan and maple trees has been developed into a scenic spot—Rongfeng Park.
Green Sea Poem Trail scene (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The ancient trees in Rongfeng Park are lush and green, praised as the "Green Sea Poem Trail." Under the trees, there is an old ox-herder and a goose-driver in straw rain capes and bamboo hats, evoking a strong pastoral atmosphere, making it a famous check-in spot. Upon arrival, a group of photography enthusiasts was photographing an old ox under the ancient banyan tree. A smoke machine was also used to create artificial mist, showing great attention to detail.
Ox-herder and goose-driver (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
In fact, the light and shadow are gifts of nature, but the mist is artificial. The old herder in the straw cape and the goose-driver are local farmers dressed up, and the ox and geese are trained to move according to the photographer's requirements, providing the best picture for visitors.
Close-up of the ox-herder (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
However, these shoots require payment: 100 yuan per person for the goose-driver scene and 20 yuan per person to take a photo with the ox. After all, the ox-herder and goose-driver put in labor, so being compensated is only fair.
Group photo in the banyan park (Photo by Liu Ronghui)
The ancient banyan trees in the park are numerous, majestic, with dense foliage and interlocking branches, looking particularly ancient and peculiar. The largest one, a small-leaf red-bark banyan, is 29 meters tall with a crown diameter of 51 meters, covering an area of 3.06 mu (about 0.204 hectares). The trunk is elliptical: the long axis diameter is 5.1 meters, the short axis diameter is 3.6 meters, and the circumference is 12.6 meters. The trunk is hollow with seven interconnected openings.
The huge ancient banyan tree (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Another spectacular sight in Rongfeng Park is the pure maple forest covering 250 mu (about 16.67 hectares). Every winter, the maple leaves turn red, creating a charming scenery that attracts numerous visitors.
The old ox under the banyan tree (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The Yangjia Creek where the park is located originally was a stream in the eastern foothills of Taimu Mountain in Ningde City, Fujian Province. It was formerly known as Nanyangping or Jiuli Creek. According to legend, the famous general Yang Wenguang of the Northern Song Dynasty once stationed here, so it was renamed Yangjia Creek. The creek has a serene environment with pleasant scenery, making it an excellent place for tourism, vacation, summer escape, swimming, and fishing.
Group photo under the ancient banyan tree (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Rongfeng Park is located downstream of Yangjia Creek in Dutou Village, Yacheng Town, just a few steps from Yangjia Creek. It mainly consists of ancient banyan and maple trees, most of which are over 900 years old, with thick trunks and lush foliage. Some roots are exposed on the ground, like sinews plunging into the earth, and branches stretch out diagonally, forming a green "canopy" full of artistic flair.
Lush foliage (Photo by Wang Jue)
The dense leaves block the sky, making the area under the trees cool and serene, like a fairy tale world. In the morning, sunlight filters through the top of the ancient trees, creating beams known as the "Tyndall effect." The area instantly enters a highlight moment, with interwoven light and shadow and swaying greenery, resembling a paradise on earth, earning it the title "Peach Blossom Spring of the Sea."
Sign of Donghai No. 1 Viewing Boardwalk (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
At 13:50 Beijing time on January 19, 2024, the Fujian team finished their morning tour of Tianmu Mountain and started the second stage of the Xiapu trip. The first stop was the Donghai No. 1 Viewing Platform in Xiapu, a very beautiful scenic spot with spectacular sea views and unique natural scenery.
Viewing the sea from the platform (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The "Donghai No. 1" scenic sightseeing road is located along the coast of Dongchong Peninsula in Xiapu, Fujian. It serves as a green corridor for tourism, leisure, entertainment, and industrial investment, and has become a popular check-in spot. The viewing platform is a high point overlooking the entire beach and sea, offering magnificent sea views and sunset beauty. Standing on the platform, one can feel the sea breeze and hear the waves crashing, as if immersed in the sea.
Close-up of fishing boats at sea (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The full name of "Donghai No. 1" is Donghai No. 1 Dongchong Peninsula Scenic Sightseeing Road, with a total length of about 96.3 kilometers and a total investment of 3.287 billion yuan. It is divided into the Shijieyuan to Jishi section, Jishi to Lüxia section, and Lüxia to Dongchong section. The Jishi to Lüxia section is 20.3 kilometers long, with an investment of 368 million yuan, built to grade III highway standards with a roadbed width of 7.5 meters. After completion, it will become a seaside green corridor integrating tourism, sightseeing, and leisure.
Waves crashing on the shore (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
"Donghai No. 1" connects important scenic areas and tourist resorts such as Gaoluo, Haiwei, Dajing, Xiaojing, and Xiawei Island, and builds tourist branch roads linking scenic spots, beautiful villages, and check-in points along the route, as well as slow-moving systems like coastal walkways and exercise paths, creating a "slow travel" transportation network.
Group photo at Xiawei Island (Photo by Zhang Ronghui)
At 14:50 Beijing time, after finishing the viewing at Donghai No. 1 Viewing Platform, the Fujian team took the bus along the popular Dongchong Road by the seaside, passing through tunnels and following signs to the second scenic spot of the day: Xiawei Island, located at the southeastern end of Changchun Peninsula.
Signpost for Xiawei Island (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Also known as Xiawei Islet, it faces the East China Sea and covers an area of less than 0.1 square kilometers. Although small, it has hidden wonders: clear blue waters and various shaped reefs.
Scenery of Xiawei Island (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Xiawei Island is close to the sea, offering a broad view where the sea meets the sky. Blue sky, white clouds, and clear water, with seabirds flying freely. Especially at sunset, the sun slowly sinking into the sea is spectacular. The main attractions here include sea caves, sea views, sea breezes, photography, playing on the sand and reefs, as well as various surrounding spots.
Reefs around the sea cave (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The sea cave is the first major attraction when entering Xiawei Island and its greatest wonder. It was formed by long-term geological movements, tens of millions of years of seawater erosion, and wind erosion. Standing inside the cave looking out at the sea, surrounding islands, and reefs, the scenery is exceptionally beautiful, like a natural picture frame, also an excellent viewing platform.
Viewing boardwalk on Xiawei Island (Photo by Wang Jue)
On sunny, clear days, enjoying the sea breeze on Xiawei Island is very comfortable, making it a suitable place for quiet exploration. When taking photos on Xiawei Island, the sea cave, sea, reefs, sand, and various surrounding landmarks are excellent backgrounds; sunrise and sunset both produce stunning images.
Group photo at the watchtower on Xiawei Island (Photo by Zhao Jingying)
The sand and reefs on Xiawei Island blend together. One can walk barefoot between the beach and the reefs, even kick the seawater, creating a romantic feeling. Since the tide was rising, we had hoped to enter the sea cave, but the coastal boardwalk was temporarily closed for safety reasons, so we missed it.
Viewing platform on Xiawei Island (Photo by Wang Jue)
There are also many other attractions around Xiawei Island: to the south across the sea are the Lüxia Lighthouse, Lüxia Village, and Lüxia Pier of Lütouwei; to the north on Changchun Peninsula are Nanqi Mountain, Xiapu Dajing Beach, Gaoluo Beach, Xiaojing Grassland, Beioi Mudflat, Xiaohao Beach, Xuyu Ao, Dongbi, Yangjia Creek, Banyue Li, etc., all famous tourist attractions.
Reef scenery on Xiawei Island (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
In summary, Xiawei Island and its surrounding scenic islands, clear blue waters, the intermingling beaches and reefs, soaring seagulls, scattered sails, and strange rocks along the beautiful coastline together form a beautiful landscape, earning it the reputation of "China's Hawaii."
Signboard of Danwan Viewing Platform (Photo by Wang Jue)
At 15:50 Beijing time, the Fujian team arrived at the last stop of the Xiapu trip: Danwan Viewing Platform No. 9 on Donghai No. 1.
Viewing Bijiashan from Danwan Viewing Platform (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Danwan Viewing Platform stretches over 100 meters from north to south, over 200 meters from the shore to the sea, and is crescent-shaped with higher west and lower east. The sand is fine, crystal clear, and soft as a blanket. Both sides of the beach are mostly overlapped reefs, serving as natural wave barriers. It is also called "Youguang Stone," layered in odd shapes, with stone caves formed by seawater erosion, offering unique scenery. Standing on the platform facing the sea, one can photograph the beautiful Bijiashan (Pen Holder Mountain) on the sea.
Surrounding scenery of Danwan (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Here, people can enjoy the Danwan sea view, surrounded by the sea on three sides with a wide perspective. You can overlook the long, winding coastline, watch fishing boats sailing and working in the warm sea breeze; in the colorful sunset, watch the sun slowly sink into the embrace of the mountains and sea. As the team finished their tour of Danwan Viewing Platform, the two-day trip to Xiapu came to a perfect end. (Text and photos by Feng Ganyong)
